Tug sinks after collision with container ship in Spanish port

A port authority in Spain is investigating how a 2016-built tugboat sank in the harbour while it was manoeuvring a Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) container ship on 30 June.

437-gt tug Cala Gullo sank with three crew members on board while guiding 330-m container ship MSC Cape Sounio in the port.

According to the Port Authority of Barcelona, the 31-m tug was supporting this 2017-built container ship as it departed from the Hutchison Ports Best terminal. During a turnaround manoeuvre, the Malta-flagged container ship’s bow struck the tug, which then severely listed before sinking stern first.

Port Authority of Barcelona immediately mobilised a standby pilot transfer vessel to the site, and it rescued the tug’s crew without any injury. There was no pollution from the sunken tug and refloating operations began.

The port authority is  investigating the cause of the collision and the container ship has departed to Valencia, Spain, according to automatic identification system information.